History of the mobile phone

September 10, 2012 12:55 PM

Photo: LLUIS GENE/AFP/Getty Images

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Apple just unveiled the iPhone 5 with much fanfare. Such debuts have become must-see events for the geek-erati every since Apple founder and then-CEO Steve Jobs debuted the first iPhone on Jan. 9, 2007 at the Macworld Conference in San Francisco. But the history of the mobile phone starts way earlier. less

Apple just unveiled the iPhone 5 with much fanfare. Such debuts have become must-see events for the geek-erati every since Apple founder and then-CEO Steve Jobs debuted the first iPhone on Jan. 9, 2007 at the ... more

Photo: AFP IOPP, AFP/Getty Images

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The American Bell Telephone Company devised this portable headset, shown on a telephone operator in 1923.

The American Bell Telephone Company devised this portable headset, shown on a telephone operator in 1923.

Photo: Hulton Archive, Getty Images

The American Bell Telephone Company devised this portable headset,... Photo-3434842.48764 - Beaumont Enterprise

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OK, this isn't a real telephone, but it is mobile. This shot shows workers moving a giant model telephone for the Ideal Home Exhibition on Feb. 25, 1928 in London.

OK, this isn't a real telephone, but it is mobile. This shot shows workers moving a giant model telephone for the Ideal Home Exhibition on Feb. 25, 1928 in London.

Photo: E. Bacon, Getty Images

OK, this isn't a real telephone, but it is mobile. This shot... Photo-3434852.48764 - Beaumont Enterprise

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Similarly, here's a motorcycle fitted out to look like a giant telephone on June 20, 1932 in London. It was a stunt by the U.K. General Post Office to tout the importance of phones. The dial on the wheel bears the slogan, 'The World at Your Finger Tips.' less

Similarly, here's a motorcycle fitted out to look like a giant telephone on June 20, 1932 in London. It was a stunt by the U.K. General Post Office to tout the importance of phones. The dial on the wheel bears ... more

Photo: Topical Press Agency, Getty Images

Similarly, here's a motorcycle fitted out to look like a giant... Photo-3434853.48764 - Beaumont Enterprise

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Back to real phones, this photo shows British Commander Sir John Dill and Admiral Louis Mountbatten on portable phones during World War II, circa 1942. Between them is U.S. General George Marshall.

Back to real phones, this photo shows British Commander Sir John Dill and Admiral Louis Mountbatten on portable phones during World War II, circa 1942. Between them is U.S. General George Marshall.

The true ancestors to today's mobile phones came in the 1970s. This is a Pye Telecommunications radio telephone being demonstrated at the exhibition 'Communications Today, Tomorrow and the Future,' on April 11, 1972 at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, in London. less

The true ancestors to today's mobile phones came in the 1970s. This is a Pye Telecommunications radio telephone being demonstrated at the exhibition 'Communications Today, Tomorrow and the Future,' on April 11, ... more

Photo: Stacey, Getty Images

The true ancestors to today's mobile phones came in the 1970s.... Photo-3434851.48764 - Beaumont Enterprise

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The Motorola DynaTAC was a 1973 prototype of the first handheld cellular telephone. Here's Martin Cooper, chairman and CEO of ArrayComm, holding one in San Francisco on April 2, 2003.

The Motorola DynaTAC was a 1973 prototype of the first handheld cellular telephone. Here's Martin Cooper, chairman and CEO of ArrayComm, holding one in San Francisco on April 2, 2003.

Photo: ERIC RISBERG, AP

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Many of the early portable phones were large devices in bags, with corded handsets. Here, Chris Brasher talks on such a phone during the London marathon in 1985.

Many of the early portable phones were large devices in bags, with corded handsets. Here, Chris Brasher talks on such a phone during the London marathon in 1985.

Photo: Getty Images

Many of the early portable phones were large devices in bags, with... Photo-3434854.48764 - Beaumont Enterprise

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Franck Piccard of France talks on a brick-like mobile phone after winning gold in the Super G Slalom on Feb. 28, 1988 at the Winter Olympic Games in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Franck Piccard of France talks on a brick-like mobile phone after winning gold in the Super G Slalom on Feb. 28, 1988 at the Winter Olympic Games in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

In fact, they could look like cartoon characters. Japan's NTT Central Personal Communications Network rolled out this phone featuring the Japanese character "Doraemon" in Tokyo on Dec. 16, 1997. The system was designed to play the theme song of the cartoon series when a telephone call was received and the voice of the character answered if the receiver was absent. It cost 20,000 yen (about $150 at the time). less

In fact, they could look like cartoon characters. Japan's NTT Central Personal Communications Network rolled out this phone featuring the Japanese character "Doraemon" in Tokyo on Dec. 16, 1997. The system was ... more

Motorola showed off this hybrid satelite/GSM phone named "Iridium" at the 1998 Africa Telecom exhibition in Johannesburg, South Africa. The company touted the phone as being able to work anywhere in the world.

Motorola showed off this hybrid satelite/GSM phone named "Iridium" at the 1998 Africa Telecom exhibition in Johannesburg, South Africa. The company touted the phone as being able to work anywhere in the world.

Several companies have risen and fallen among the world's largest makers of cell phones. One is Sweden's Ericsson, which made its name with phones such as the MC 218, launched on March 12, 1999. Ericsson remains a leading provider of telecommunications equipment and
services. less

Several companies have risen and fallen among the world's largest makers of cell phones. One is Sweden's Ericsson, which made its name with phones such as the MC 218, launched on March 12, 1999. Ericsson ... more

Photo: Getty Images

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Nokia topped the cell-phone world in the late 1990s with phones such as the 6160. But it fell behind with the advent of smartphones.

Nokia topped the cell-phone world in the late 1990s with phones such as the 6160. But it fell behind with the advent of smartphones.

Photo: Nokia

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Handspring's much-touted Treo 180 "communicator" at $399 was another attempt to merge a personal digital assistant with a mobile phone in 2002.

Handspring's much-touted Treo 180 "communicator" at $399 was another attempt to merge a personal digital assistant with a mobile phone in 2002.

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, member of the board of directors of Danger Inc., holds up the company's Hiptop smartphone in 2002. Danger was later bought by Microsoft, and its developers worked on software for the Zune media player, which then morphed into Windows Phone. less

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, member of the board of directors of Danger Inc., holds up the company's Hiptop smartphone in 2002. Danger was later bought by Microsoft, and its developers worked on software for ... more

The BlackBerry 5810 from 2002 was the first model to put a cell phone into a BlackBerry device, which at the time was primarily for email. You couldn't hold the phone to your head - you had to use the corded headset to talk. less

The BlackBerry 5810 from 2002 was the first model to put a cell phone into a BlackBerry device, which at the time was primarily for email. You couldn't hold the phone to your head - you had to use the corded ... more

Photo: BEBETO MATTHEWS, AP

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Motorola's Razr flip phone, unveiled in 2004, was once considered the epitome of mobile style.

Motorola's Razr flip phone, unveiled in 2004, was once considered the epitome of mobile style.

After the 2007 launch of the iPhone, everyone else was playing catch up, including Google, with its Android platform. Here's a demonstration of Android at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on Feb. 11, 2008. less

After the 2007 launch of the iPhone, everyone else was playing catch up, including Google, with its Android platform. Here's a demonstration of Android at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on Feb. 11, ... more

Photo: LLUIS GENE, AFP/Getty Images

After the 2007 launch of the iPhone, everyone else was playing... Photo-3434839.48764 - Beaumont Enterprise

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Mario Queiroz, Vice President of Product Management for Google, unveils the company's first phone, the Nexus One, on January 5, 2010 at Google headquarters in Mountain View, Calif.

Mario Queiroz, Vice President of Product Management for Google, unveils the company's first phone, the Nexus One, on January 5, 2010 at Google headquarters in Mountain View, Calif.

Shoppers line up for the iPhone 4 outside an Apple store in central London on June 24, 2010.

Shoppers line up for the iPhone 4 outside an Apple store in central London on June 24, 2010.

Photo: Getty Images

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The most-recent iPhone launched was the iPhone 4s. Here's Phil Schiller, Apple senior vice president of worldwide product marketing, discussing the phone during the launch at the company’s headquarters October 4, 2011 in Cupertino, Calif. less

The most-recent iPhone launched was the iPhone 4s. Here's Phil Schiller, Apple senior vice president of worldwide product marketing, discussing the phone during the launch at the company’s headquarters ... more

Patricia Yeung, right, of San Francisco, waits in line for the iPhone 4s at the University Village Apple Store in Seattle on October 14, 2011.

Patricia Yeung, right, of San Francisco, waits in line for the iPhone 4s at the University Village Apple Store in Seattle on October 14, 2011.

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO

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Motorola rolled out its first Droid Android smartphone in 2009, touting it as having and doing what the iPhone didn't and couldn't, including a "real keyboard." As it turned out, most people weren't fussed about having a real keyboard. less

Motorola rolled out its first Droid Android smartphone in 2009, touting it as having and doing what the iPhone didn't and couldn't, including a "real keyboard." As it turned out, most people weren't fussed ... more

Over the past couple of years, Samsung's Android smartphones have emerged as the iPhone's most-prominent challenger. Apple sued for patent infringement, and a California jury on Aug. 24 ordered Samsung to pay Apple $1 billion. Here's an iPhone 4s, left, displayed next to the Samsung Galaxy S III at a store in San Francisco on Aug. 27, 2012. less

Over the past couple of years, Samsung's Android smartphones have emerged as the iPhone's most-prominent challenger. Apple sued for patent infringement, and a California jury on Aug. 24 ordered Samsung to pay ... more

Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, Associated Press

Over the past couple of years, Samsung's Android smartphones... Photo-3375601.48764 - Beaumont Enterprise

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Microsoft has misfired several times in the smartphone wars but seems to have gotten some traction starting with Windows Phone 7, which CEO Steve Ballmer unveiled in New York on October 11, 2010.

Microsoft has misfired several times in the smartphone wars but seems to have gotten some traction starting with Windows Phone 7, which CEO Steve Ballmer unveiled in New York on October 11, 2010.

Photo: Getty Images

Microsoft has misfired several times in the smartphone wars but... Photo-781596.48764 - Beaumont Enterprise

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Nokia hitched its hopes of revival to Windows Phone. Here, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer (left) shows the new Nokia Lumia 900 phone to host Ryan Seacrest as he delivers a keynote address at the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center on Jan. 9, 2012. less

Nokia hitched its hopes of revival to Windows Phone. Here, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer (left) shows the new Nokia Lumia 900 phone to host Ryan Seacrest as he delivers a keynote address at the 2012 International ... more